£35m: United count cost of failing to bag European spot May 15, 2014 MANCHESTER United expect their miserable season to cost them around £35m but say they still intend to spend as they look to re-establish themselves as England’s top club. Chief executive Ed Woodward confirmed yesterday that the team’s failure to qualify for European competition would dent next year’s earnings by a figure “in the mid-30 millions [...]
Cipriani told to capitalise on second chance May 15, 2014 ENGLAND head coach Stuart Lancaster has challenged Danny Cipriani to repay his show of faith after recalling the fly-half to the international fold for the first time in six years yesterday. Cipriani, 26, won the last of seven England caps in November 2008 but was named by Lancaster in a 20-man training squad ahead of [...]
More ticket woe as Rugby World Cup early seat sale postponed May 15, 2014 TODAY’S planned sale of Rugby World Cup tickets has been postponed after Ticketmaster said it needed extra time to prepare its website, just days after their Commonwealth Games sale process was plunged into chaos. The first 500,000 seats for next autumn’s showpiece were due to be available to members of the Rugby Community Ticketing Programme [...]
Sport Comment: Last season’s pain makes us want silverware more May 15, 2014 SARACENS have already reached one final and tomorrow we hope to book our place in another, but none of it will count for much unless we finish the season with a trophy or two this time. If ever we needed a reminder not to get carried away then we only have to remember last season, [...]
Quins not scared of Sarries clash, says Turner-Hall May 15, 2014 HARLEQUINS centre Jordan Turner-Hall has dismissed the notion that his team’s defeat to Saracens at Wembley two months ago will weigh heavy on their shoulders in tomorrow’s Aviva Premiership semi-final. Following the 39-17 loss to their London rivals in front of almost 84,000 spectators, Quins stormed to five consecutive wins to snatch fourth place in [...]
Last chance for Giroud to convince Wenger he can remain his leading man May 15, 2014 ARSENAL striker Olivier Giroud has at times struggled to live up to the prolific standards of predecessors such as Robin van Persie, Thierry Henry, Nicolas Anelka and Ian Wright. The Frenchman’s performances since his arrival from Montpellier in June 2012 have been sporadically accomplished but never silenced the clamour for Arsene Wenger to sign an [...]
Spurs fans could cheer on Arsenal May 15, 2014 TOTTENHAM fans will have reason to cheer on Arsenal in tomorrow’s FA Cup final, as they hope to avoid starting the new season in July. Should Hull win at Wembley Spurs would enter the Europa League at the third qualifying round, set to begin on 31 July.
Murray happy to draw Nadal May 15, 2014 TENNIS: Britain’s Andy Murray is relishing the chance to play King of Clay Rafael Nadal ahead of the French Open in today’s Italian Open quarter-final. Murray beat Jurgen Melzer 7-6, 6-4 yesterday, while Nadal saw off Mikhail Youzhny 6-7, 6-2, 6-1. Murray said: “It will be a great match because I will see exactly where [...]
Head of FFP investigations dies May 15, 2014 FOOTBALL: Former Belgium prime minister Jean-Luc Dehaene has died aged 73. Dehaene was heading the Club Financial Control Body, who were investigating possible breaches of Uefa’s financial fair play rules.
Britain storm into European final May 15, 2014 GYMNASTICS: Great Britain shocked reigning European Champions Russia by qualifying for tomorrow’s team Artistic Gymnastics final in Bulgaria ahead of them. The five-strong squad topped the standings and are now bidding to win only Britain’s second ever European team medal following their combined effort to win silver in 2010.